Mexican Consulate Mobile Service Visit to WNC

“Without the proper identification, people who have immigrated to this country from Mexico cannot even get a library card, let alone utilities or a bank account,” says Carolina McCready, Co-Director of El Centro of Henderson County.

However, in order to process the paperwork needed to obtain/renew passports, Mexican ID cards or power of attorney, Mexicans living in this area have to go to the Mexican Consulate’s office in Raleigh. This requires taking time off of work and taking children away from school to make the eight hour round trip. In addition, most visits require many hours at the Consulate office and an overnight stay. These logistics present an insurmountable challenge for many Mexicans living in this area.

To overcome these barriers and help meet vital identification needs in the local Mexican community, El Centro is hosting a visit from the Mexican Consulate on Saturday, October 19 from 8:00 am until 8:00 pm at the WNC AG Center in the Expo Building.

Led by Consulate General of Mexico Javier Díaz de León, a team of ten people from the Raleigh office will be available on the 19th. Javier Díaz de León was appointed by President Enrique Peña Nieto in April of this year. Stations will be set up for each of the various services offered by the Consulate. To leverage the impact of this community event there will also be information tables with nonprofit organizations and businesses that serve the Latino community.

El Centro estimates that somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 people will attend this event. People interested in obtaining services need to make an appointment by calling the Mexitel hotline, 877-639-4835, between October 10 and October 18, during the hours of 8:00 am and 8:00 pm.

“We feel very honored that the Consulate has chosen to visit Henderson County,” says McCready. The Consulate has visited this area every year for the past three years, but before that it had been five years since representatives from had here traveled from Raleigh.

As a small non-profit, hosting this visit stretches the resources of El Centro, which is responsible for all of the expenses related to the event including renting the Expo Center. To offset these costs, the organization is soliciting sponsorships. They are also raffling off a handmade Aztec sculpture, donated by a longtime friend of the center. The piece is made from clay and natural dyes and is depiction of the Aztec god of rain,Tlaloc. Raffle tickets are $2 for one or two for $5. They are available through El Centro.

Located at 508 N. Grove Streetin in Hendersonville, El Centro can be reached by phone 693-1981, email elcentro.lac@gmail.com, or Facebook (facebook.com/el.c.comunitario).